CQR's are sh***!

Just a quick update on the Dutch boat trying to anchor in my last post. On their 9th attempt we felt so sorry for them I went out on the dinghy and offered for them to raft to us, they graciously accepted an are now tied to or port side! The breeze is meant to stay at force 2 all night so I don't think we'll have any problems!

If anyone reading this has any tips for being rafted at anchor please let me know ASAP!

Ibiza

After a very uneventful 8 hour crossing we are in Ibiza! There was very little wind so we motored most of the way in lovely sunshine and near flat seas. Our first stop is a cala named Portinatx which is very well sheltered and reasonably busy, but there was just enough room for us to squeeze in. We decided to stay tonight a well and quite a few more boats have come in, as I write this I am keeping a close eye on a French boat trying to anchor less than a boat length away! They have tried to set their CQR 6 times and are on their 7th attempt! Don't buy a CQR!

The bay is surrounded by some fairly typical "Brits Abroad" hotels and bars which do slightly ruin the peacefulness as they have parties well in to the night!

We are going to head round to San Antonio bay tomorrow to re-supply and then hopefully we will be able to pick up a mooring buoy in Formentera for a couple of nights.

P.S.
Carol has just come up on deck and informed me that the boat that is still having trouble setting it's CQR is actually Dutch which has put my mind at rest slightly!

On our way to Soller

Santa Ponca was a surprisingly good marina, I say surprisingly because we had been to the town a couple of times before and it left a lot to be desired! However, the marina was tucked away from the town and was very secluded, with what looked to be a popular restaurant. The only down side was the marina staff who seemed a little bit off and the berth they gave us was so tight I might as well have not put any mooring lines on; we were firmly wedged between the boats next to us!

The photo is of the back of some stink pot and I am not thinking of going over to the dark side, although I do see the benefit of the speed for day cruising which is greatly out weighed by the money burnt (literally!) by the fuel consumption.....I could rant about the differences for a while so I'll stop and get back to the picture! If you look closely you can just see the hydraulic mechanism that lowers it into the water and I thought I would share it because it seems like a really good design; do you think I would work on the back of a sail boat?!!

Moving on to Santa Ponca

Tomorrow morning it's time to leave Puerto Portals and head round to Santa Ponca (Ponca should have one of those squiggly things under the C to make it ponsa, but I can't find it on the keyboard!), it's only a short trip and we were tempted to miss it out and go straight to Soller. However, Carol rightly pointed out that there is little to no info on the web about it and it will be just about the only marina we haven't been to in Mallorca so it would be a shame to miss writing it up for the cruising guide! From there we will head to Soller at the beginning of next week and then on to Ibiza to meet Helly on the 4th.

The very random picture is one we took whilst in Mahon and I had forgotten to share it. They left the harbour under almost full sail whilst playing Ride of the Valkryies very loudly, it was a super impressive sight!

Force 11

Eight more knots and it would be an actual hurricane!

First swim without a wetsuit!

We have returned from our 10 day trip back to the UK to find Palma mainly bathed in sunshine and at around 23 degrees!

We spent a couple of nights in Port De Mallorca and have now sailed round to Portals for a few nights in our favourite bay before heading up to Soller. From there we are heading to Ibiza to meet up with Helly and then on to the Valencia F1 Grand Prix with Matt and Jim!

Anyone else that wants to join us at some point get in touch!